 | |||||||||||||
NOTE ABOUT FIELD TRIPS Field trips are free, and people of any age or level of experience are welcome to participate. This page will reflect any changes made to existing field trips, including trips that are rescheduled or added after the newsletter is mailed. In the event of inclement weather, please contact the trip leader to see if the trip has been canceled. Any trip may involve walking on dirt and/or paved trails, but some trips will be more strenuous than others. Trip leaders can advise you of the amount of physical activity involved. For all field trips, bring comfortable footwear for hiking, binoculars, water, snacks, sunscreen, and FRS radios, if you have them. In warmer seasons, bring mosquito and tick repellent. And lastly, you don't have to be an expert to go birding and have fun with Burroughs Audubon!  BURROUGHS AUDUBON FIELD TRIPS & OTHER LOCAL AND REGIONAL EVENTS NOVEMBER 2011 Saturday, November 12 - Lyon, Coffey and Osage Counties (KS) with Matt Gearheart. We'll meet at 7:00 a.m. in the parking lot of the Olathe Holiday Inn (south side of building). Directions: take I-35 south to 151st St./Hwy. K-7 (exit 215). Follow signs to 151st St. Turn right (west) on 151st and continue 0.17 miles to access road between Olathe Medical Center and Holiday Inn. Matt will lead us on a great day of birding at Melvern Reservoir, Lyon Co. State Fishing Lake, John Redmond Reservoir, and Coffey County Lake in search of Smith's Longspurs, grebes, loons, scoters, gulls, shrikes, sparrows, and Long-eared Owls. Bring food, beverages, and FRS radios for this all-day trip which will conclude with a bird tally and finger-lickin' good barbeque (ribs highly recommended) at Guy and Mae's Tavern in Williamsburg. For more information, contact Matt at  or 816-569-0817.Saturday, November 26 - Squaw Creek NWR with Mike Stoakes. This trip is in conjunction with the Prairie Village Wild Bird Center. For carpooling, meet at 7:00 a.m. at the WBC (83rd and Mission Rd. in Prairie Village), or at the Squaw Creek visitor center around 8:45 a.m. This is an all day driving trip on the Refuge's 10-mile auto tour loop. We'll witness multitudes of Snow Geese and waterfowl, as well as dozens of Bald Eagles. Bring a sack lunch, snacks, optics, field guides, and FRS radios. After lunch, we'll make another pass around the refuge or explore other nearby areas, such as Big Lake State Park. Dress in layers, as conditions are often cold and windy at this time of year. For more information, contact Mike at  or 816-554-1956.DECEMBER 2011 Christmas Bird Counts: Trimble / Smithville - Saturday, Dec. 17 - Compiler: Kristi Mayo. Contact Kristi at  or 816-289-7828.Kansas City - Sunday, Dec. 18 - Compiler: Mike Stoakes. Contact Mike at or 816-554-1956.JANUARY 2012 Sunday, January 1 - Lake Jacomo and Fleming Park with Jim and Ellen Zellmer. Start the year with a bang on this half-day trip! We'll meet at 7:30 a.m. in the parking lot of the Jackson County Parks and Recreation offices at the intersection of Liggett and Woods Chapel Roads (watch for traffic light at this 3-way intersection). We'll bird the lakes and trails throughout the park looking for winter residents and late migrants -- ducks, geese, sparrows, finches, eagles, hawks and, hopefully, some surprises! Be sure to dress for the weather and wear footwear for some light walking. If the weather is really cold, we'll warm up at the Burroughs Library. Questions? Contact Jim and Ellen Zellmer at  or 816-228-3955.Jan. 7 - 8 - Eagle Days at Smithville Reservoir. Call 816-532-0174 for more information. Jan. 14 - 15 - Wichita Waterfowl and Raptors with Bob Gress and Wichita Audubon Society members. Join us on this overnight (Sat.) trip to a winter waterfowl and raptor hotspot. We'll begin on Saturday at the Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita. If the Barrow's Goldeneye, or other rarity, is present, we'll spend the morning searching for it. We'll spend Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning in and around the Wichita area, depending on where birds are being seen. Please R.S.V.P. to Sherry Leonardo at 816-763-1393 or  by Friday, January 6. Meeting place and time for carpooling, and Wichita lodging, TBA (determined by who signs up). Please note that this trip is weather-dependent and will be cancelled (not to be rescheduled) if hazardous road conditions exist on Saturday Morning.Saturday, January 21- Blue River Parkway with Don Arney. Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the parking lot near the Minor Park tennis courts. We'll spend 2-3 hours walking the trails along the Blue River. Bring snacks and beverages. Contact Don at 816-931-8536 or  for more information.Saturday, January 28 - Winter bird banding at the Burroughs Library. Join Missouri River Bird Observatory's Dana Ripper and Ethan Duke as they band songbirds from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. as part of their continuing research into the distribution of Missouri's birds. For further info, contact Sherry Leonardo at 816-763-1393 or .FEBRUARY 2012 Saturday, February 4 - Lawrence, Clinton Reservoir and Perry Lake with Mark Land. Join us as we travel to Lawrence and Perry, KS in search of winter songbirds and waterfowl. We'll check Clinton Reservoir, and Perry Lake for gulls, raptors, waterfowl, sparrows, shrikes, and finches. Bring all the usual items: binoculars, scopes, FRS radios, drinks, snacks, money for lunch (we may stop to warm up at a local lunch spot), and cold weather gear (lakes are always windy places). The Kansas City group will meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Wendy's at K-10 and Woodland Drive. If coming from other areas, contact Mark for a meeting spot in Lawrence. Contact Mark at 913-381-4324 and leave a message if you plan to participate, so that he can contact you if the trip is cancelled because of the weather. There is an entrance fee to Clinton Lake State Park, if you don't have a KS Parks yearly permit. This is an all day trip, but you're welcome to come for as much as you like. Saturday, February 18 - Great Backyard Bird Count at Ernie Miller Nature Center. 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It's as easy as one-two-three! Every year biologists and researchers count on you to help them determine the health of bird populations in North America. Join us as we count birds and contribute to a worthy cause. It just takes 15 minutes, and you may see Northern Cardinals, Black-capped chickadees, and many more feathered friends. Learn about the birds that winter in Northeast Kansas from experienced birders from Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City. For more information about this free event, call 913-764-7759. Feb. 17 - 18 - Great Backyard Bird Count at the Burroughs Audubon Library. Join us during normal library hours on Saturday and Sunday for this citizen science project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society. This year, we're promoting the GBBC as a great activity for families that's both free and educational, while also getting kids outside. For more information, contact Mike Stoakes at 816-554-1956 or .Sunday, February 26 - Powell Gardens with Alan Branhagen. Meet in the Visitor Education Center at 9:00 a.m. The usual entry fee will be waived (Burroughs Audubon Society members). This half-day trip will cover the 3.25 mile Byron Shutz Nature Trail, so wear appropriate footwear, and bring snacks and water. Maybe we'll see another Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler! Some in our group may choose to have lunch afterwards at Café Thyme located in the Visitor Education Center. If you miss this trip, or truly enjoy it, Alan leads a Powell Gardens-sponsored hike each month January - April, for the price of admission. For more information contact Alan at  or 816-697-2600 ext. 241.MARCH 2012 Wednesday, March 7 - Jerry Smith Park Woodcock Walk with Larry Rizzo. 6:00 p.m. Whether you call it a mudsnipe, bogsucker, or timberdoodle, the American Woodcock has a fascinating courtship display that can be seen right here in our area! Larry will lead us on a short hike to an overlook where these birds often display at dusk. The hard surface trail will lead to the area where the birds display, but some hiking over unpaved ground may be necessary. Bring a flashlight and dress for evening weather. From Holmes Road go east on 139th Street and proceed 3/4 mile to the park entrance on the left. Follow the long gravel drive to the parking lot at the top of the hill. Regardless of weather, call Larry after 12:00 p.m. (Noon) for confirmation of this trip. Windy and/or inclement conditions can affect the trip. Contact Larry Rizzo at  or 816-655-6254 ext. 246.Mar. 23 - 25 - Sandhill Cranes and waterfowl on Nebraska's Platte River with Craig Hensley. A migratory spectacle not to be missed! We'll view cranes as they leave their roosts in the morning and return to the river in the evening. On one of the mornings, we'll get up early to view Greater Prairie Chickens on a lek. We'll also bird Funk Lagoon and some of the surrounding Rainwater Basin areas. We'll leave at 8:00 a.m. on Friday (location TBA) and return by 6:00 p.m. Sunday evening. Participants will arrange their own lodging in Kearney, Nebraska. Please R.S.V.P. and direct informational queries to Craig at 913-299-2384. Saturday, March 31 - Ernie Miller Nature Center and Kill Creek Park with Pat St. John. We'll meet at the Nature Center parking lot at 8:00 a.m. and take an early Spring walk to look for sparrows, finches, and other songbirds. We will also check out the habitat at Kill Creek Park to help establish a bird list for this newer Johnson County regional park. This is a half-day trip, so be sure to bring snacks and drinks. Contact Pat at 913-706-5569 or  with any questions.APRIL 2012 Saturday, April 7 - Fountain Grove Conservation Area and Pershing State Park with Steve Kinder. We'll look for waterfowl and early migrants, like pipits and plovers, in this area with great habitat diversity, from wetlands and forest tracts to grasslands and old fields. Meet at 6:30 a.m. in the Liberty commuter lot at I-35 and U.S. 69 Hwy. (Excelsior Springs exit) for carpooling. This will be an all-day trip with limited walking. Bring lunch, snacks, and beverages. Also, bring FRS radios, if you have them. Contact Mike Stoakes for more information at 816-554-1956 or .Wednesday, April 18 - Squaw Creek NWR with Christine Kline. NEW! First trip in our mid-week (Wednesday) field trip series - April through May 2012. Join us on this, largely, driving trip along the Refuge's 10-mile auto tour loop. For carpooling, meet at 7:00 a.m. in the Platte City commuter lot, or at the Squaw Creek visitor center around 8:15 a.m. We'll look for waterfowl as well as early shorebird and songbird migrants. If ground conditions are favorable, we may enjoy foot/automobile access to some areas that are normally off-limits to the public. Be sure to bring a lunch and snacks and drinks. Contact Pat St. John at 913-706-5569 and or Christine at 816-540-3515 and  with any questions.Saturday, April 21 - Native Plant Sale at the Burroughs Library and Nature Center in Fleming Park. 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Quality stock from Missouri Wildflowers Nursery. Native plants have many advantages in your yard: they require less water and maintenance, and they support a variety of birds and beneficial insects. Your purchase is tax-free and helps support the Important Bird Areas program in Missouri and other conservation projects. Contact Christine Kline at 816-540-3515 or for more information and pre-orders.Sunday, April 22 - Van Meter State Park & Grand Pass Conservation Area with Sherry Leonardo. In the morning, we'll bird the campground, boardwalk, and an adjacent trail at Van Meter SP looking for migrating songbirds. After lunch, we'll head to Grand Pass CA to look for shorebirds, rails, and any lingering waterfowl. Bring insect repellent, lunch, beverages, and snacks. We'll meet at 6:30 a.m. in the commuter lot at MO Hwy. 7 and I-70 in Blue Springs (on the north side of Price Chopper) for carpooling. For more info, contact Sherry at 816-763-1393 or .Wednesday, April 25 - Haskell-Baker Wetlands with Roger Boyd. Second trip in our mid-week field trip series - April through May 2012. Meet at 6:30 a.m. at the Wendy's restaurant at Woodland Drive and K-10 in Lenexa. Directions: take I-435 to KS Hwy.10. Take K-10 west to Woodland Dr. Turn right (north) and go to Wendy's /convenience store entrance. We'll carpool as much as possible, due to limited parking at the wetlands. Bring insect repellent, lunch, beverages, and snacks. For more info, contact Sherry Leonardo at 816-763-1393 or .Apr. 27 - 29 - Audubon Society of Missouri Spring Meeting in Joplin, MO. Thursday Morning Bird Walks Backyard Bird Center 6212 N.W. Barry Road, Kansas City, MO 64154. Please call the store for more information and to register 816-746-1113. Saturday Morning Bird Walks Independence Wild Bird Center 4480 S. Noland Road, Independence, MO 64055. Call 816-478-9399 to reserve a spot. Prairie Village Wild Bird Center in the Corinth Square shops. FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH. 4046 W. 83rd St., Prairie Village, KS 66208. Meet at the store at 8 a.m. - bird for 2-3 hours - return to the store. Call 913-381-5633 for more info. Bird Walks through June 2012:
MORE INFORMATION: For more information about our field trips or to volunteer to lead a trip, please contact Sherry Leonardo at , Pat St. John at , or Mike Stoakes at or 816-554-1956.
| |||||||||||||
 |
